Wildlife Roundup for the week of Sept. 3

Welcome to the Juneau area Wildlife Roundup. The intent of this column is to provide Juneau residents updates on wildlife activity in the Juneau area and general interest wildlife information.

Local Black Bears: Black bear activity in Juneau continues to be reported across town.

• Sporadic calls have been received along North Douglas Highway.

• A lone bear has been reported on Franklin Street downtown.

• Bear activity has been reported on Old Glacier Highway between the high school and Wickersham Avenue, and in the Twin Lakes area.

• A lone bear has been reported in Lemon Creek neighborhoods, both east and west of Glacier Highway.

• Bears are being reported in multiple neighborhoods adjacent to Valley Boulevard.

• Several reports have been received about bear activity in Mendenhaven neighborhoods.

• A few calls have been received on Back Loop road and Fritz Cover Road.

Residents should anticipate seeing bears in berry patches and along salmon streams, including those areas that may be found in or adjacent to neighborhoods. Historically, urban bear activity increases as natural foods, such as berries, become scarce through the fall. Residents are reminded to remove all attractants from their home and to secure household garbage in a bear resistant container until the day of pick up, and to ensure that cans and dumpsters are maintained appropriately. Most of Juneau has received new garbage cans. These cans are not bear proof or resistant. Garbage cans should be stored in bear proof containers until the day of pick up.

To date, department staff have relocated four black bears from Juneau, and euthanized one.